With an ambitious upgrade, the 72-year-old security alliance between the US and Japan has transitioned into a global partnership intended as an urgent attempt to uphold the fraying global order.
But will it survive an impending transition of another kind? The length of the tenures of its two stewards is uncertain: President Joe Biden is up for a challenging re-election, and Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has suffered a fall in approval ratings of an order that often presages a challenge to leadership.
Standing side by side, Mr Biden and Mr Kishida unwrapped the contours of the largely regional alliance that has undergone a startling transformation. It now displays the global reach of US-Japan cooperation.
"This is the most significant upgrade in our alliance since it was first established," said Mr Biden in his introductory remarks at a joint news conference with Mr Kishida on April 10.
"We're modernising command and control structures, and we're increasing the interoperability and planning of our militaries so they can work together in a seamless and effective way," added the President, after their closed-door meeting that lasted nearly 1½ hours.
He also hosted Mr Kishida to a glittery state dinner at the White House during a pomp-filled, four-day official visit that kicked off on April 9.
"We have raised our shared ambitions. And now, the US-Japan alliance is a beacon to the entire world," said Mr Biden.
That the point of the alliance is to counter China was the dominant subtext. The surprise was that the message was unsubtle, with no attempt to bury it under the usual diplomatic niceties.
Unusually, Mr Kishida mentioned China by name in his prefatory remarks as he spoke about Japan's urgency to bolster the deterrence and response capabilities of the alliance before talking about "various specific challenges faced by the international community.
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة April 12, 2024 من The Straits Times.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 8500 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة April 12, 2024 من The Straits Times.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 8500 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
HARD-EARNED WIN FOR MAX
Verstappen pushes flat out’ to hold off Norris at Imola for fifth victory of season
FLYING NEMO THE VAMPIRE SLAYER
Pacific Vampire toothless at 3rd start, bubble burst by 281 shot
Generative Al falling short of promise to transform businesses
Enterprises underestimated what they needed, and overrated its business impact: Observers
China’s housing crash could set back millions of promising careers
HONG KONG - Ms Ivy Zhang figured she had it made.
Ever looked yourself up on a chatbot? Meta AI accused me of a workplace scandal
It has been more than a year since ChatGPT launched into the mainstream, but chatbots have not stopped lying.
600 among 25,000 who eraduated from polysabove age of 40
MOE hopes to see greater training participation in this age group after SkillsFuture top-up
Few early adopters seek repositioning of ERP 2.0 units to driver's footwell
Fleet operators say they have no plans to relocate units, citing absence of driver complaints
Plans to redevelop Bedok Stadium being studied
Public feedback invited with more diverse community, sport offerings on the agenda
Israeli opposition leader Gantz threatens to quit war Cabinet
He wants Netanyahu to offer plan to bring back hostages, end Hamas’ rule in Gaza
French forces act to take control of key road in New Caledonia
Territory has been convulsed by violence since May 13; factors include economic woes